Kushmanda Mata is worshipped on the 4th day of Navratri. Kushmanda is a Sanskrit name, which means: ‘Ku’ - small/little, ‘Ushma’ - energy/heat, ‘Anda’ - egg. This form of Goddess Parvati blesses her devotee with wealth, health and power.

About Kushmanda

Maa Kushmanda has eight arms carrying Chakra (a weapon like discus), Gada (mace), sword, bow, arrow, Kamandal (stoup), Amrit Kalash (jar of the elixir of life), and lotus. Due to her eight arms, she is also known as Ashtabhuja Devi. She rides a lioness.

Legend

When there was no universe and darkness was prevalent everywhere, Goddess Kushmanda brought light to the cosmos by producing the cosmic egg with a smile. She is the Goddess who can exist in inside the core of the Sun. Her light and glow is just like Surya (the Sun).

When the cosmos got created, the Goddess created the Trideva (3 gods - Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh) and Tridevi (3 goddesses - Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati). She is the maker of the entire Brahmand (universe).

Astrological Aspect

Kushmanda Maa gives way to the Sun. Hence, worshipping her can remove all the ill effects of the astrological planet Sun.

Mantras

ॐ देवी कूष्माण्डायै नमः॥

Prarthana Mantra:

सुरासम्पूर्ण कलशं रुधिराप्लुतमेव च।
दधाना हस्तपद्माभ्यां कूष्माण्डा शुभदास्तु मे॥

Stuti:

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु माँ कूष्माण्डा रूपेण संस्थिता।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

Dhyana Mantra:

वन्दे वाञ्छित कामार्थे चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम्।
सिंहरूढ़ा अष्टभुजा कूष्माण्डा यशस्विनीम्॥
भास्वर भानु निभाम् अनाहत स्थिताम् चतुर्थ दुर्गा त्रिनेत्राम्।
कमण्डलु, चाप, बाण, पद्म, सुधाकलश, चक्र, गदा, जपवटीधराम्॥
पटाम्बर परिधानां कमनीयां मृदुहास्या नानालङ्कार भूषिताम्।
मञ्जीर, हार, केयूर, किङ्किणि, रत्नकुण्डल, मण्डिताम्॥
प्रफुल्ल वदनांचारू चिबुकां कान्त कपोलाम् तुगम् कुचाम्।
कोमलाङ्गी स्मेरमुखी श्रीकंटि निम्ननाभि नितम्बनीम्॥

Stotra:

दुर्गतिनाशिनी त्वंहि दरिद्रादि विनाशनीम्।
जयंदा धनदा कूष्माण्डे प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
जगतमाता जगतकत्री जगदाधार रूपणीम्।
चराचरेश्वरी कूष्माण्डे प्रणमाम्यहम्॥
त्रैलोक्यसुन्दरी त्वंहि दुःख शोक निवारिणीम्।
परमानन्दमयी, कूष्माण्डे प्रणमाम्यहम्॥

Kavacha Mantra:

हंसरै में शिर पातु कूष्माण्डे भवनाशिनीम्।
हसलकरीं नेत्रेच, हसरौश्च ललाटकम्॥
कौमारी पातु सर्वगात्रे, वाराही उत्तरे तथा,
पूर्वे पातु वैष्णवी इन्द्राणी दक्षिणे मम।
दिग्विदिक्षु सर्वत्रेव कूं बीजम् सर्वदावतु॥

With this, we hope that you will make the best of Navratris fourth day. May Maa Kushmanda bless you with all the goodness of life.